Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1887-02-18
sUPExsTIrION IN ALASKA.

SUPERSTITION IN ALASKA.
A belief in the presence of evil spirits
constitutes the only religious ideas
among the Mutes. There are among
them individuals called toonrachs,
corresponding to the shaman of the
Siberian tribes. If a person is sick be-
fore the whaling season commences, or
a child is born before going on a jour
ney or building a house the services of
the shaman is called in requisition.
The modus operandi in every case is
very similar. The shaman, after a
long spell of silence, suddenly begins
to roll his eyes, convulsive shakes per-
wade his frame and he gives utterance
to various groans and signs intermingled
with sentences pertaining to the sub
ject upon which he is engaged. Dur
ing the time of his performance q con-
tinuous beating upon q drum is kept up.
Toward the end paroxysms, or rather
commissions of exultation similar to
what has been described as prevailing
at the finale Of Shaker meeting are
exhibited by the shaman. Froth
exudes from his mouth, his eyes glare
and roll, and his whole frame is con-
torted. Precipitation pours from his
face, and he is entirely exhausted. The
loud invocations to the evil spirits to
vacate the body of the sick person, or
to drive them away from the sea to n
able the whales or seals to arrive, be-
come gradually subdued, dying away
into incoherent mutterings. Then after
a while he regains his composure, COM
%placently smokes his pipe, and receives
his pay for services performed. If the
operation is performed over a sick per-
son and recovery does not ensue the
payment made is returned, q custom
that might be advantageously adopted
among civilized persons.
Some curious superstitions are also
to be noted. If q person is sick, iron
tools, such as aXes or knives cannot be
used in the house. Upon a mans grave
his sled is placed, but broken to pieces,
and his kyack meets similar usage.
Furs, spears, and rifles, are also de-
posted, while, if the individual has
killed many whales, the long jaw-bones
of the balnna are placed in an upright
position to mark the spot. These peo-
pie bury their dead upon the ground,
raising a number of pieces of driftwood
in the shape of a tent over the remains.
Owing to this insecure mode of burial
the wood soon falls down and affords
entrance to foxes and dogs, who make
havoc with the body. But little regard
is paid to the burial places, although
these Mutes are very much incensed
whenever attempts are made to take
away any skulls or bones from the
grave yards. They also make a long
detour in passing the resting place of
the dead, and will on no account touch
anything once deposited ct a burial.
A woman's grave has her clothing,
sewing-gear, and various household
utensils placed upon it. One of the
most peculiar acts 1 heard of took place
in the month of May, during the whal-
ing season, at Point Hope. A woman
died and her body was carried out to
the edge of the ice. Three old women
cut her heart out, wrapped it in a cover
ing of seal intestines, and threw it into
the sea through a hole in the foe. This
was done in order to bring good luck
to the catch.--4ldska Cor. San Fran
cisco Chronicle.
CREDITlBLE TO 1HE COLORED MEN.
1t may be said of all the negroes who
haya vet been sent to CONGRESS- that